Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed on Saturday with Syria’s Ambassador in Moscow Riyad Haddad preparations for the upcoming Astana talks on settling the crisis in Syria, scheduled for January 23.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that both sides exchanged views on the situation in Syria.

They said they were content that the cessation of hostilities would create the necessary opportunity to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Syria and push efforts towards reaching a political solution according to the Security Council resolution no. 2254, the statement added.